16 teams in Inter-Plantation Rugby Sevens

RUGBY FOOTBALL: Sixteen teams from plantation companies will compete at the Inter-Plantation Rugby 7's hosted by the Dickoya-Maskeliya Cricket Club (DMCC) on March 31 at Darawella.

According to the Secretary of the DMCC, Tarique Omar, the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) and the Central Province RFU are extending all support to the DMCC together with all the plantation companies.

He said that this is being sponsored by Dilmah Teams with Nilkamal Eswaran Plastics (Pvt) Ltd and Thermax (Lalan Engineering) too assisting the DMCC.

The 7's was hosted by the Dimbulla Athletic and Cricket Club (DACC) since 1997 with DMCC being the hosts from 2005. The defending champions are Namunukula Plantations.

The Organising Committee is headed by the President of the DMCC, Dilakshan Ratwatte and also includes Tarique Omar, Ajith Ratnayake, Dushan Ratwatte, Binesh Pannanwela, Manjula Samarakoon, Sameera Kahatapitiya, D. Ramakrishanan, Rohan Hettiarachchi, Channa de Costa, Anu Ratwatte, Prabath Siritunga, Janaka Ellawela and M. Markar.

The 16 plantation companies playing are: Agrapatana, Balangoda, Bogowantalawa, Elpitiya, Hapugastenne, Kegalle, Kelani Valley, Kotagala, Malwatte Valley, Maskeliya, Maturata, Pussellawa, Talawakelle, Udapussellawa, Namunukula and Watawala.

Rajiv Mathangaweera from Dilmah will be the chief guest, while Tissa Gunatilleke (CEO of Talawakelle Plantations) will be the guest of honour.

L.G.